Dead PC (lightning)

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adsl2

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Hi guys,

As some of you may know we had some thunder storms friday night in Pretoria. Unfortunately I wasn't home so couldn't unplug all our electronic devices.

When I got home I first noticed that the router was malfunctioning and upon further inspection I saw that my PC was dead. The router as well as my pc was behind a surge protector but it doesn't look like it helped.

I am currently using a friends router but unfortunately can't get my PC to power up. Nothing happens when I press the power button. The only LED that is active is a DRAM LED on the MB but it is flashing very dim.

I tested the PSU with the paperclip jumper method which then spins up the fans. Does this mean that the PSU is fine?

How can I test what works and what is damaged?

I will contact the insurance tomorrow to find out if they will cover my PC.

Specs:
-PSU: Corsair CX600
-i7 2600k
-ASUS P8P67-M
-HD 6878

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
First pull out the GPU and swap out the PSU with a spare one. Any 400w PSU should power up your system.

From there you can diagnose any other failures. The RAM LED could be dim if there isn't enough power or the Motherboard has popped.

First get the PSU tested and then you can diagnose from there.
 
adsl2 said:
Hi guys,



I tested the PSU with the paperclip jumper method which then spins up the fans. Does this mean that the PSU is fine?

Specs:
-PSU: Corsair CX600
-i7 2600k
-ASUS P8P67-M
-HD 6878

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It means that you 5V power is working.
It is normally a nice way to check if a PSU is dead or not.
The fact that you have 5 volt running unfortunately does not mean the the PSU is healthy.
You could try with a multimeter as well, but the the easiest way for you would be to try and remove another psu and try it in your pc.
Without spares it is unlikely that you will be able to figure out if the MB, CPU or ram are damaged or any combination of them are damaged.
Take it to pc shop and let them test.
 
ChocolateBadger said:
Ouch...sounds like an expensive strike
Click to expand...

Yup:(

Fox1 said:
First pull out the GPU and swap out the PSU with a spare one. Any 400w PSU should power up your system.

From there you can diagnose any other failures. The RAM LED could be dim if there isn't enough power or the Motherboard has popped.

First get the PSU tested and then you can diagnose from there.
Click to expand...


RoMark said:
It means that you 5V power is working.
It is normally a nice way to check if a PSU is dead or not.
The fact that you have 5 volt running unfortunately does not mean the the PSU is healthy.
You could try with a multimeter as well, but the the easiest way for you would be to try and remove another psu and try it in your pc.
Without spares it is unlikely that you will be able to figure out if the MB, CPU or ram are damaged or any combination of them are damaged.
Take it to pc shop and let them test.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I don't have any spare components to test mine.
I think it will probably be the best to take the box to a PC shop and get their opinion. Do you guys know if titan-ice will be able to help with this?

Rickster said:
Unplug the surge protector (normally when it gets hit it self destructs in way to protect your pc) and try it directly on the wall socket.
Click to expand...

Already tried that thanks :)
 
Rickster said:
Did you keep that warranty slip that grants you R20 000 if the surge protector didnt work as designed?
Click to expand...

Please let me know where I can buy such a surge protector? I basically have a R20k worth of PCs Instruments and Gadgets running on a normal multiplug (not at the same time :) )
 
CrazYmonkeY159 said:
Please let me know where I can buy such a surge protector? I basically have a R20k worth of PCs Instruments and Gadgets running on a normal multiplug (not at the same time :) )
Click to expand...

Problem is they have an item max count too and need you to provide serial numbers of all devices plugged into it. Lastly it only covers where the lighting hit came from the powerline and not the phoneline/network. This is why im trying to get my wireless set up asap as i'd prefer isolating the phoneline and having the rest behind surge plugs. I think phoneline strikes are more common than power to be honest.

Makro sells them for about 120-250 depending number of plugs/devices you can plugin. builderswarehouse sells them too.. all ellies stuff.
 
There's also a lightening protector that fits in the main(DB) board.
 
krycor said:
Problem is they have an item max count too and need you to provide serial numbers of all devices plugged into it. Lastly it only covers where the lighting hit came from the powerline and not the phoneline/network. This is why im trying to get my wireless set up asap as i'd prefer isolating the phoneline and having the rest behind surge plugs. I think phoneline strikes are more common than power to be honest.

Makro sells them for about 120-250 depending number of plugs/devices you can plugin. builderswarehouse sells them too.. all ellies stuff.
Click to expand...

Ellies is crap IMHO. I've got APC line, plug and regulators instead...
 
APC one?

The plug?
The regulator?
The line protection?
The lan protection?

Please tell !

:edit
When I got home I first noticed that the router was malfunctioning and upon further inspection I saw that my PC was dead. The router as well as my pc was behind a surge protector but it doesn't look like it helped.
Click to expand...

A single surge unit for your whole setup? :erm:

View attachment 71109
 
Last edited:
adsl2 said:
some thunder storms friday night in Pretoria.
Click to expand...

Some? Lol. That was a very rough 30 minute storm. I was out on midnight-patrol and had to go awol. Couldn't see jack-shizz on the road.

It's an eish for your pc :/

I had a router go bottoms-up behind a surge protector too. It had gone right through it.
If your PSU seems to work, and your router is fried, chances are it's cooked your motherboard via the router->LAN->motherboard route. You should be able to smell it though.

Test your RAM on another computer, just to make sure, but busted RAM won't stop your computer from starting up.
Your CPU... if your motherboard is cooked, chances are your CPU will be too.
 
froot said:
Some? Lol. That was a very rough 30 minute storm. I was out on midnight-patrol and had to go awol. Couldn't see jack-shizz on the road.

It's an eish for your pc :/

I had a router go bottoms-up behind a surge protector too. It had gone right through it.
If your PSU seems to work, and your router is fried, chances are it's cooked your motherboard via the router->LAN->motherboard route. You should be able to smell it though.

Test your RAM on another computer, just to make sure, but busted RAM won't stop your computer from starting up.
Your CPU... if your motherboard is cooked, chances are your CPU will be too.
Click to expand...
I also thought that I should be able to smell it but there is no burn smell.
I dont have another pc to test my ram on. I think I will go to titan-ice tomorrow to find out if they will be able to test my components.

Ek huil sommer :(
 
adsl2 said:
I also thought that I should be able to smell it but there is no burn smell.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately you had to learn this the hard way. Protector or UPS adjacent to appliances do not even claim to protect from typically destructive surges. Other solutions (that also costs less money) exist that would have averted damage. But that is another discussion.

Do not disconnect or remove anything. Even the paper clip test cannot say the PSU is OK. It can only identify some failures. And do little to identify a defect.

You need a meter. A tool that typically costs less than a hammer. One minute of labor with the meter gets numbers from six wires. Post those numbers here to learn exactly what is defective and/or what is fine. And without any speculation. Without the phrase "it might be ...". And without spending lots of money replacing good parts until something works.

These are your two choices. Either obtain a meter and ask for directions. Or do what most do to not learn how computers work; keep buying, swapping, and replacing parts until something works. Then not learn what specifically is defective and how to avert future failures. Those are your two options.
 
You spend money for replacing blown parts only to discover that other components start failing one by one during next few months. This is nature of damage by lightning, it might not be showing immediately.

My advice, you have insurance, write PC off. Donate, don't ask money. Check if you can get data out from hard drives and move it as soon as possible. Don't assume that because it survived, it will last long.
 
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